Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-06-09
THE CIIYrS DITI 10 HEN MiNTF4C-
TIRfRS.

We had the pleasure oi saying, the other
dsy, that the city should not stop with
Offering inducements to outside manufsc-
turing concerns IA come here, but that she
ought TO afford all needed facilities Ia
those which are already located here and
are doing great deal 10 promote the
growth and prosperity of the city. One OF
our thriving local industries is under the
management of the Springfield Msnutactur-
ing company, manufacturers of grave
vaults and other products. This company's
factory is located on the east side of the
known as the Thompson tract-not ''ad-
dition,~ as II has never been plated, and
there is no regularly laid out street on
either side Of il. When the managers OF
the company purchased the ground II was
with the understanding that the parties
owning this Thompson tract would open
the streets, Plum street being the outlet,
and located on the line between the ThOmp-
son and Clarke properties. The Clarkes,
We understand refused 30 open because, a.
spoil COW pasture, etc. !" hence the Thomp-
SONS would mol give their halt of the street
unless the ClarkeS would do likewise. Both
OF these properties belong 10 heirs, and il
seems impossible Ia get all Ia agree at the
same time, and il seems absolutely certain
that the streets will never be opened unless
the city forces them open. The eOmpany's
teams are compelled 10 travel over a 10. d
along the line of the railroad which the maj =
ayers made themselves but the road b, ing
SO close Ia the track, and with no outlet eN-
cept at either terminus, the railroad author
ities have requested the company several
times To- seek all outlet some other way, on
account of the extreme danger which at
tends passing vehicles AT train times. The
Evans Manufacturing company and the
Hanika Fence company have no direct out
iet to the city. being compelled To travel
two squares westward To yellow Springs
street before getting on direct thorough
fare 10 the main part Of the city. The three
factories combined employ between three
aud four hundred men. the year round, and
. Il
ward. are compelled 10 wade through mud
aud grass. and climb wire and rail fences, in
getting back and forth. There are also
about OH. hundred families living south of
this tract on both sides of the railroad, who
are in the same condition As to city i'm
proyements a. the factories, with no streets,
lo water, no gas, but plenty Of taxes.
The remedy for this business is easy and
simple. Let the city council condemn the
land for these streets needed 10 be opened.
paying the property owners the price of un-
improved land. The whole amount needed
would not exceed 1900. And then after
the streets are opened, assess ad-
joining property owners for improvements
of streets. as the law now provides can be
done. If some of our public-spirited citi
zens and the city council, while they are
spending time and money running after
outside concerns, would assist institutions
already established by such accommoda-
tiOns as we have alluded 10 in this article,
and give them streets. water, light. etc,
all of which they are actually entitled to,
and which would cost the city comparatively
little. then there would be more appreciation
of this public spirit all around. Strangers
who visit these factories, ask, as among their
II st questions: Why don't you have a
street to get here on?' or why don't the
city open one for you?'
The best and most direct method of in
ducing foreign manufacturers To come here
is to do the fair thing by those already To-
Gated here.